In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the decision to grant the industry ‘Pioneer Status’ is in fulfillment of the promise made by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, at the opening of the Creative Industry Financing Conference in Lagos 17-18 July 2017.

The ‘Pioneer Status’ is granted to companies making investments in qualifying industries and products as tax holiday from the payment of corporate income tax and withholding tax on dividend from pioneer profits for an initial period of three years, extendable for one or two additional years.

”This is a shot in the arm for the Creative Industry, and it will definitely catalyze investments in the industry. It is also the answer to our quest to spur the establishment of world class studios in Nigeria for production and post-production of movies and music videos,” the Minister said.

He said the need to grant ‘Pioneer Status’ to the Creative Industry as well as tackle the piracy of creative works were among the key issues raised by participants at the Creative Industry Financing Conference.

”It is a measure of the increasing importance attached to the
industry by the Federal Government that these issues are now being handled with utmost urgency. First, the ‘Pioneer Status’ has been granted within three weeks of the conclusion of the conference. Secondly, an Anti-Piracy Committee, comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, industry stakeholders and the police, has been set up to work out the modality for tackling piracy in a lasting and sustainable manner,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He thanked the stakeholders in the Creative Industry for supporting the Federal Government in its efforts that have succeeded in putting the industry in the front burner of the economy and made it a key plank of the government’s economic diversification policy.

”We are determined to do more for the Creative Industry in order to allow the creative talents of our youths to blossom, create massive jobs and position Nigeria as a global hub for the industry,” the Minister said

]]>Segun Arinze: I like Davido and Wizkid but I want to collaborate with Teknohttp://nigeriancurrent.com/2017/08/03/segun-arinze-i-like-davido-and-wizkid-but-i-want-to-collaborate-with-tekno/
Thu, 03 Aug 2017 06:55:56 +0000http://nigeriancurrent.com/?p=17536Nollywood actor Segun Arinze says he desires to do a musical collaboration with Augustine Miles Kelechi popularly known as Tekno, in the future.

Arinze disclosed this in an interview with NAN on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said: “Right now, I am more focused on my career as an actor and TV presenter; you know am doing the Give and Take Lottery on TV.

“So I am focused on that, but you never can tell; if I want to do a collabo, it should be with Tekno; I like Tekno; am his biggest fan.

“However, I like Davido, Wizkid, Tekno, Phyno and the rest; I am impressed with what they are doing. However, many be in a near future it will come through, you never can tell, it might be a blend of the old and young,” Arinze said.

Arinze explained that artists like Timi Dakolo, Wizkid, and Davido might be doing something with him, but declined to give the details.

He reiterated that he was impressed with what Nigerian musical artists were doing on the world stage.

“For Davido, it is a big point for him that somebody like R. Kelly can use his music for remix; he should be proud about that and Nigerians should also be proud for him,” he said.

Arinze released a music album ‘Nwanyi Yanga’ in 1992.

He studied dramatic arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state.

]]>AUDIO: Wizkid Drops News Music ‘Medicine’http://nigeriancurrent.com/2017/07/30/audio-wizkid-drops-news-music-medicine/
Sun, 30 Jul 2017 07:55:17 +0000http://nigeriancurrent.com/?p=17481Two weeks after the release of his EP” Sunds from the OTHE Side.” Wizkid is out with new music.

The new single is titled ‘Medicine’ and was produced by masterkraft

Take a listen

]]>PHOTOS: Naija Celebrities Turn Up In Style At Google Eventhttp://nigeriancurrent.com/2017/07/28/photos-naija-celebrities-turn-up-in-style-at-google-event/
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:38:46 +0000http://nigeriancurrent.com/?p=17433Nigerian celebrities turned up stylishly at the #GoogleForNigeria event which held in Lagos.
The event brought together personalities from the music, fashion and even travel industries.

Also present at the event was the CEO of Google Inc., Sundar Pichai who announced that the tech giant would be training about 10 million Africans in the next five years.

President Macron met with the 29-year-old singer on Wednesday to discuss her charity activities in healthcare and education.

The Barbadian singer of hit “Diamonds” founded the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012, a nonprofit organisation that promotes scholarship projects across the globe.

She was welcomed at the Elysee by French First Lady Brigitte Macron.

Rihanna, Ambassador of Global Partnership for Education, said: “Well, I just had the most incredible meeting with the president and first lady. They were incredibly welcoming to us, we focused on the topic of education from global aspects and we are going to make a very big announcement this coming September during UN week but we are going to do even more work this October in Africa.

“I was so inspired and impressed with his leadership and I can’t wait for you guys to hear where this is going to go but I think this is the year for education.”

On June 24, Rihanna asked Macron on Twitter if France would commit to funding education, a plea that was retweeted almost 30,000 times.

]]>Mr. Eazi Opens Up On Relationship With Wizkid, Says Starboy Refuses To Give Him An Offerhttp://nigeriancurrent.com/2017/07/26/mr-eazi-opens-up-on-relationship-with-wizkid-says-starboy-refuses-to-give-him-an-offer/
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 20:16:38 +0000http://nigeriancurrent.com/?p=17413Mr Eazi says he asked Wizkid to make him an offer on the Starboy record label but the ‘Come Closer’ singer declined.

Wizkid, he says, urged him to tell him “exactly” what he desires from their partnership.

He made this known during a special interview with Julie Adenuga to mark his feature as Apple Music’s ‘Up Next’ artiste for July.

Mr Eazi said: “When I first met him, he just asked me what I wanted and I’m like ‘give me an offer‘ and he said ‘I’m not going to give you an offer‘.

“He said ‘tell me exactly what you want‘ and I said ‘I don’t want any money from you‘ and he replied saying, ‘What do you want‘. And I’m like ‘I want us to work together as a family ‘.

“And that is what it is [till today]. I’m operating how I like and putting out music whenever I like. It’s a sweet thing.”

The ‘Skin Tight’ singer also spoke on how Wizkid once offered him a beat that he was about to lay his vocals on.

“In The Morning, a record on the mixtape, was supposed to be a Wiz record. Legendary [music producer] had played the beat and Wiz was about to record when I just strolled into the studio,” he said.

“I told him, ‘Yo, I have an idea, let me try it‘ and when he heard it, he said ‘I don’t think this is for me anymore‘. Two days later, the record drops and that was the point where I knew we were really up to something.”

Mr Eazi whose musical influences are Fela Kuti and Dcotor Alban, says he enjoys watching Wizkid record in the studio.

“I like the way he feels free,” he said.

Harping on his early stints in the entertainment industry while in the university in Ghana, Mr Eazi said he saw himself more as a show promoter, not an artiste.

His first popular track, Mr Eazi says, was ‘Pippi Dance’, a fusion of Azonto and Ragga.

The singer who calls himself a ‘travelling nomad’ said he came up with the Banku genre of music after making a song called ‘Bankulize’.

Mr Eazi also revealed that he has recorded about twelve songs with Diplo, an American record producer/artiste, who reached out to him via Twitter.

The Nigerian singer will be hosting a culture festival at London’s Roundhouse in September.

Franklin said the idea behind the Instant Pick Up was conceived out personal inconveniences, adding that the app was fully designed by Nigerian geeks.

“Our vision for Instant Pick Up was as a result of the inconveniences I personally experienced while managing a hectic business schedule, family schedule and unable to fulfill other several needs, a problem most of us are familiar with,” he said.

“Of all my entrepreneurial pursuit, Instant Pick Up app is one which I have been most passionate about, from conception, to development of the app.

“I worked with brilliant innovative Nigerians. Instant Pick Up app is fully created by IT guys in Nigeria.

“The Instant Pick Up app, would not be just an everyday pick up app, This is what will guaranty quality and excellent on-time pick up delivery of laundry, catering for a wide population of Nigeria from across various demographics.”

Franklin, apart from the rolling out the new product, recently signed three upcoming artistes to MMMG.

]]>70 per cent of Nigerian Celebrities Are On Drugs, Says Okey Bakassihttp://nigeriancurrent.com/2017/07/18/70-per-cent-of-nigerian-celebrities-are-on-drugs-says-okey-bakassi/
Tue, 18 Jul 2017 06:59:00 +0000http://nigeriancurrent.com/?p=17309Veteran actor and TV host, Okey Bakassi, has raised concerns over the alarming rate of drug abuse and its consumption in Nigeria.

The stand-up comedian said a majority of illicit drugs consumers are Nigerian celebrities.

Bakassi made the assertion when he appeared as a guest on Emma Ugolee’s The Gist alongside African China and Sound Sultan.

“Conservatively 70% of Nigerian Celebrities are on some sort of substance today. They have gone ballistic. You hear a lot of names- SK, Kush, Loud, etc. the names come everyday and you’re struggling to keep up with the nomenclature of it.”

Bakassi, however, admitted that he also indulged in the act when he was younger, and noted that entertainers often take drugs to boost their creativity.

“I did some of it too. Creativity is part of it. [It enhances creativity] in the short term,” he said.

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According to a mental health expert who was also on the show, “[Drugs and] alcohol [today] is the to-go guy and yet the most commonly abused substance.”

Quite a number of Nigerian entertainers have been known to share photos on Instagram, where they are seen smoking marijuana.

Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun features prominently in this category.

In fact, the singer’s last Instagram post shows him puffing on what appears to be a rolled-up marijuana.

The event which was hosted by Nollywood actress, Nse Ikpe Etim held at the Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Winners include Akin Omotoso, who won the best director award, Nkem Owoh who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, “76” which won the Lagos State Best Nigerian film award.